In this episode of Army Reserve today

It's the largest toy collection and donation program in the Army

Reserve, and it's conducted each year by the U.S. Army Civil Affairs and

Psychological Operations Command (Airborne). The Randy Oler Memorial

Operation Toy Drop is in it's 15th year, and has provided tens of thousands of toys for children who wouldn't have a Merry Christmas otherwise since he established the program in 1998.

Hurricane Sandy devastated the U.S. east coast, and it provided the Army

Reserve its first chance to provide relief effort support under provisions

of the 2012 National Defense Authorization Act since it was signed into law by the President. Responding to natural disasters has traditionally

belonged to the National Guard, but it's a mission the operational Army Reserve will be heavily involved with from now on.

The Department of the Army conducted the 2012 Army Best Warrior

Competition at Fort Lee, VA, in October. Two Army Reserve Soldiers

competed against the best in the Army in a grueling four-day competition for the honors of being chosen as the Soldier and NCO of the Year. They didn't win, but they did prove they have what it takes to compete at the national level.

Soldiers training in the Combat Support Training Execise (CSTX) at

Fort Hunter Liggett got the chance this summer to learn how to support medical evacuations by C-130 Hercules aircraft and civilian life flight

helicopters.

An Army Reserve unit is one of only six asphalt paving units in the

Army, and this summer they got the chance to show they were up to the

mission of smoothing out the ride on Fort Hunter Liggett's roads.

Army Reserve engineer units proved they had what it takes to build bridges under fire at Fort Chaffee, AR, this summer during River Assault 2012.

Keeping Soldiers fueled for the fight by providing world-class meals during an Army Reserve exercise in Arkansas focused their efforts on the mission at hand, thanks to professional food service Soldiers running the kitchens.

Soldiers from a Washington based Army Reserve combat support hospital

deployed to Botswana in Africa to participated in Southern Accord 2012, a joint exercise conducted with that nation's armed forces.

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